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Playstation 2 : WILD ARMS ® Alter code: F Reviews

Gas Gauge: 73
Gas Gauge 73
Below are user reviews of WILD ARMS ® Alter code: F and on the right are links to professionally written reviews. The summary of review scores shows the distribution of scores given by the professional reviewers for WILD ARMS ® Alter code: F. Column height indicates the number of reviews with a score within the range shown at the bottom of the column. Higher scores (columns further towards the right) are better.

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Game Spot 72
Game FAQs
IGN 77
GameZone 79
1UP 65






User Reviews (1 - 11 of 15)

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Wild Arms is back!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 24 / 27
Date: November 26, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Well after nearly ten months of Agetec's delaying since February, we finally have this awesome remake of the original Wild Arms that started, and for some rekindled, our love of the wild west. I guess I have to say this was worth the wait. This game is beyond words. Everything you remember from Rudy, Jack and Cece's adventure in 1997 is back with incredible sound, graphics, music and battle system. Even better are Rudy and Co.'s abilities, which have been finely tuned for more features.

Storywise, this remake covers the original WA in its entirety without skipping any finer points. Also, tons of sidequests have been added (including the return of the Millenium Puzzles we all loved so much from WA3) along with the original's sidequests. Rudy and his friends have been given a serious anime makeover and let me tell you, the visuals are stunning. All of WA's music has been seriously revamped for this game and once again, Michiko Naruke does not disappoint. I'd swear that girl must have lived in the times of cowboys and six-shooters to make this kind of music.

The new features are quite a plus. Rudy and his friends no longer have equipment but rather only skills. If you remember WA3 and its Skill System, this will be instantly familiar to you. Of course, there are differences, such as acquiring several levels of the same skill to completely master them (for example you need to have all versions of Silver Harp to block Sleep 100%, meaning you need to collect Silver Harps 1 to 4). The battle system's newest highlight is the Bonus Rate, which uses a multiplier system similar to WA3's to increase EXP. Once again, it's different from WA3, so heads up on this one because it's a bit more complex this time (you don't get a bonus for skills activating anymore). Also, battles are oriented in very interesting style that mixes WA1 with WA3: during regular battles, you run around like you did in WA3, but during boss fights, you stay in the traditional WA1 party formation.

The characters: Rudy, Jack and Cece are now joined by people you will remember from the first game to assist them in combat: Dr. Emma, Calamity Jane and her butler Magdalen, along with others. The battle system utilizes the same Swap Out system from WA2 since you can end up with six people. Their abilities have been tweaked a bit:

Rudy's ARMS: Rudy uses his Hand Cannon ARM as his regular weapon now and can upgrade its parameters at ARMS parlors (much like in WA3). Although, be careful here since similar to WA3, Rudy can only upgrade 15 times and if you want to reset a parameter, you won't get your money back. He doesn't get new ARMS from treasure chests either, but rather cartridges that he can add to his cannon to fire off awesome attacks. Also, Rudy has to defend to restock his ammo which also copies from WA3. On a final note, Rudy doesn't have to restock his ammo for his special cartridges at an ARMS parlor, he only needs to rest to refill those.

Jack's Fast Draws: Jack has a lot less MP than he did in WA1 to use his draws. Not to mention, he has to use the draws to level them up and reduce the MP cost instead of using Secret Signs to reduce it. Because his draws are expensive and there are no more Magic Carrots for refilling MP, you will be spending a lot of time building them up.

Cece's Crest Magic: Traditionally, nothing much has changed here except a few spells have had their ranges tweaked to affect the whole party rather than cast on one ally at a time. Cece's newest feature is that she can regain MP every time she bops an enemy with her wand.

One thing to note is that everyone only has one Force power (their unique original one except for Cece whose Mystic ability has been passed on to Calamity Jane) and only Cece can summon Guardians now. The visuals on the Guardians are jawdropping to say the least though and of course the elemental gems are back as well.

With this game, you are looking at a merge of elements and gameplay factors from the previous three Wild Arms games set into the remake of the original WA, resulting in a huge and addicting game that certainly beats out the earlier months of poor RPGs (such as Suikoden 4 and Radiata Stories).

I HIGHLY recommend this to all fans and followers of Wild Arms. This game will keep you busy believe me. You should definitely get this game, especially since we are all eagerly awaiting the U.S. version of Wild Arms 4th Detonator.

Although beware gamers, due to the rather poor job that was done on the game (many bugs and such), it has been discontinued in the U.S. Hopefully, you can all find a copy.

Wild Arms: A Blast From the Past!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 11
Date: December 02, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Wild Arms is a classic RPG. Before Final Fantasy VII blew the RPG world away, Wild Arms was there to keep people busy and entertained. Its wild-west/fantasy elements have always been amazing, and it has been branded by several RPGers and critics as a cult classic! And it is.

The storyline in Wild Arms is unchanged. The land of Filgaia is losing its strength. What used to be green has now been turned into dust, and the world continues to slowly die. The planet's downfall began during a war that was waged many years ago between the humanoid race and the metal demons. The Guardians of Filgaia lent their strength to do battle, but after pushing the demons away, they lost most of their strength. Since then, the world of Filgaia has been slowly dying.

There are three characters you'll go through Wild Arms with. There's Rudy, a man who carries around an ARM, Jack, a treasure hunter, and Cecilia who has the ability to communicate with the long lost guardians.

Each character is introduced with a small prologue sequence that's unique to Wild Arms, and has been used in every title. These sequences not only introduce you to your major characters, but also serves as a tutorial for the game. Each character has a set of tools they use. With these tools you'll solve various puzzles along your journey. These tools range from staffs that light your way through areas, to a little critter that you can send out to flick switches or open inaccessable treasure chest. Either way, each tool is not only valuable, but neccessary to complete the game. It makes for something interesting to do on the field as opposed to other RPGs that constantly have you run from point A to point B only facing off in random encounters.

Battling in Wild Arms is simple, and complex. Like any RPG, you give your characters orders and watch them all attack, and then watch your enemies. It works, although by now the battle system definitely needs a tune up in this regard. Because of it's overly simplistic way of battling, most battles are somewhat slow and tiresome.

Aside from that, however, the battle mechanics are fairly well done. You can cast magic using Cecilia's magic crest, and Rudy can use his ARMS so long as he has ammunition, while Jack performs sword skills. This all requires MP and is, again, simple, but there are other nifty things that can be done. Each time a character takes damage, or deals out damage, he or she will gain Force Points (marked FP in the game). The more they have, the more able they are to perform their special abilities. Each ability takes 25 FP, and then it must be gained back again. There's another upside to Force Points. Once you reach one hundred force points (the maximum amount) your character is cured of any negative status ailments such as poison. This makes Wild Arms battle system unique.

The battles, as I noted, tend to be fairly slow and can sometimes drag on forever. This is remedied by the Migrant Level system. The Migrant Level system is simple and easy to use. In the corner you've got a Migrant Meter. When running around across the field an exclamation point will appear over your character's head. Press the circle button and you can bypass the battle. This takes away a bit of your Migrant Meter, but if you feel you need a break it comes in handy. The system does work, but with the frequent number of battles you'll get in, you'll use up your Migrant Meter in a matter of seconds. It does refill by battling, at least, and when in some puzzle rooms, you don't have to worry about battles at all.

The biggest change from the original is obvious: the graphics. They made quite a change, ditching the super-deformed look of the last decade and smoothing everything out. Characters and environments look very detailed. While the update in graphics is certainly welcome, it's sad that it doesn't utilize the power of the Playstation 2. These are by no means bad graphics, they just don't bring out the potential of the PS2. Some animations are also a bit blocky. The enemies look better, especially some of the bosses. That's also a welcome change. So while the graphics look great, they're not really jaw-dropping.

The music is still good though. The western theme that Wild Arms is known for still exists. Not only that, but it still sports some adventure themes of its own as well. The combination of Wild-Western, Fantasy, and Sci-Fi has always been a well established staple of the Wild Arms series. The music never seems to forget that either.

Another big change from the original is that you use six characters. While you'll mostly travel around with the default three, the other three are welcome. You'll have to recruit these characters by way of side-quests, however, and locating some of them can be troublesome. However, that's what's also pretty cool about Wild Arms Alter Code F. There are plenty of sidequests, hidden bosses and hidden items to uncover. The basic quest may only be about thirty hours, but doing everything this game has to offer is time-consuming, and actually fun. The hidden bosses are especially a treat, giving every RPGer the challenge they've been waiting for. And unlike most RPGs that give you some dumb item just to prove you've succeeded where so many have failed, you may actually get a decent reward in Wild Arms.

It's safe to say this is a good remake. The battle system may still be a little slow, but the game is still, overall, fun. The update was certainly worthwhile. Many Wild Arms junkies have probably already played this game in it's original state, and they most certainly weren't wrong in doing so. It's a classic. Any RPGer that hasn't played this game, should. And anyone who played the original should be satisfied at a well done remake.

The Good
+Remake of a classic game
+Interesting story
+Loveable characters
+Pretty cool battle mechanics
+Good soundtrack
+Lots of side quest

The Bad
-Battles are way too frequent
-Battling is a little slow paced

Only old-school fans need apply...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 5 / 8
Date: December 11, 2005
Author: Amazon User

After months and months of waiting, finally the remake of the 1997 RPG Wild Arms is here. As we take a redeveloped trip down memory lane, was the wait worth it, or was it (and my complete obsession of getting my hands on a copy) in vain? Let's find out!

Wild Arms' meat and bones (its story) is for the most part unchanged, which I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. Despite the back of the cover boasting a "redeveloped script," the really only the addition of a few extra scenes (some of which are very welcome additions ~ especially a very moving scene involving Rudy that adds some much needed closure to his story and a few involving Jack and the "shadows in his heart" ~ which you'll understand when you play).

As far as the translation goes, this seems to be one of the most debated issues about WA:ACF. Even though I did manage to find a fair share of mistakes, and ignoring my complete distain for Agetech being the company that got the rights to publish this game in the US, I honestly didn't think it was that horrible. I've honestly seen worse, and I thought the dialogue pretty much mimicked what was said at any given moment in the original (hence why I jest at the term "redeveloped script" being used on the back of the cover).

Outside of the storyline, the second most notable feature of WA:ACF (as well as the original) is the soundtrack provided by the series' staple composer Michiko Naruke. By far the series' defining link (at least in my book), Naruke revisits and remixes many of her compositions from the original (the opening theme "To the End of the Wilderness" which is engraved in my brain since 1997, has thankfully remained unchanged). Still, like a director going back and changing one of their works, the changes to some of the compositions do not work well at all, but then some of them are better than the original pieces.

Graphically, WA:ACF does a modest job by today's standards. The visuals, while well done and completely adequate (except for the facial expressions, which are so bad they're good), are something one would expect from a first generation PSX title. Of course, when one considers the graphics from the original (especially the battle scenes), any kind of graphical update is probably welcome by fans. Still, despite the graphics not being gorgeous as they could have been, the crucial moments and events in the storyline are very, very well done.

Combat-wise, Alter Code F isn't that much different from Wild Arms 3, which means normal enemy encounters take longer than they should (mainly because every action is followed by the combatants running around the battlefield for a few seconds before the next action). Seriously, this effect has got to go, it's a time waster and it's not even executed effectively (one minute said enemy is across the screen, next minute said enemy is right beside me because I hit it with a critical hit, etc.). Thankfully, the Migrant encounter cancel system helps with this and can cut down your travel time considerably when you just need to get to point A to B.

While the layout of combat really hasn't changed, at least the characters differ from each other this time (i.e. they are each proficient in different areas of expertise) unlike WA3's characters that pretty much all played the same excluding their two force abilities and which guardians/skills they had equipped. Rudy has his guns (well, different cartages, though I would personally would have loved to see him wield different weapons for each attack like in the original), Jack has his Fast Draws and Cecilia has her magic (and now has exclusive access to the summons since equipment is still a thing of the past like WA3).

The re-arranging of abilities to accommodate the three new playable characters is done well (though it's just plain weird not having the Mystic force ability on Cecilia to fall back on, but in a way that's a blessing, as it removes a certain amount of cheese from the game play). The only real problem with the abilities is Jack's Fast Draws, which now level up with use, reducing their MP cost in the process (replacing the Secret Sign items found in the original). While this is a novel idea, the requirements to max out the better and later Fast Draws (a.k.a. the devilishly awesome looking Laser Silhouette) are simply psychotic (I can't imagine sitting though 450 Laser Silhouette animations, especially considering the already slow pace of combat). Speaking of Jack, can't someone explain why he doesn't draw his sword and strike the enemy during a normal attack? I don't think a swordsman is going to punch the enemy when he has a sword in his hand or use it exclusively use it for special attacks. One word there: Lame.

Unfortunately, the biggest problem with Wild ARMS Alter Code:F is that fact the game's EX game feature once again discourages the player from replaying the game. Sure, your characters levels, money and the Sheriff Star (the be all, end all accessory/skill in the Wild Arms universe) carry over when you restart, but any normal skills and inventory items don't, unlike similar features in Chrono Cross that let you stack inventory items and spells/skills from multiple replays. Honestly, who's going to play through the game six times only to get six Sheriff Stars, if it's even possible to stack them? (I have no life but even I wouldn't dream of trying that!)

In the end, despite the long and agonizing wait, Wild Arms Alter Code:F was definitely worth the wait and worthy of your money if you're a fan. Still, the fact this title is so dependant on the player having experienced the original and/or having an emotional attachment to it really doesn't really help the game any, as does the series' unwillingness to evolve past its true and tried boundaries (WA:ACF as a game can get away with his due to the fact it's a remake), but one must realize how important and how make or break the upcoming Wild Arms 4 will be to the series.

Fairly good remake!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: January 02, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I was surprised when I found this game. Wild Arms: Alter Code F isn't a sequel, but a remake, as you have probably heard. It takes elements from both Wild Arms 1 and Wild Arms 3 to create a hybrid remake.

How is this game closely related to WA1? First of all, the story is practically the same as WA1. The characters are back, and look great. Each character looks like they should, and it's weird not seeing those familiar 2d sprites from the first game. Still, they did a great job designing the characters. They look like they did in the opening cutscene from WA1. I just went back and beat my old save of WA1 in anticipation for this game, and have noticed that they have cleaned up many problems from that game. I'll talk about those later.

How is this game closely related to WA3? They reused the graphics engine from WA3 for this game. I loved WA3(which I will now go back and finish), but the level designs and such were always a bit plain. The graphics in this game are the same, but it does look like they tweaked some things a little bit. I'll mention those tweaks later.

Here are the great things about this game:
For starters, the graphics work with the game. They aren't spectacular(they are a year or two old) but they are good for a cell-shaded game. The characters look like they should. The towns look good. Also, enter any house and look at the lightning effects. The team did a great job with the towns. In WA3, everything had a very static feel. In this game, things are a little bit more vibrant, and they are certainly more colorful.

The battle system is very closely related to WA3. Your characters run around a little battle field, but it plays out just like Final Fantasy. Each character has their own force power, such as the awesome Accelerator for Jack. Also, each character has special skills, that look pretty good. One of the weirder things about the game is that Jack only punches with regular attacks. He doesn't use his sword unless he is using a special skill. This works fine, but it is a little weird, as one reviewer pointed out. Battles are not nearly as frequent as WA1, and thankfully the migrant system lets you avoid many of them. I ran into very few battles. Each time you do battle you get a point, which lets you escape one battle. So in a sense, you could avoid every other battle you encounter. Some have complained that battles are slow, which is somewhat true. I actually found the battles to be of good length. Some enemies will screw around and take too much time, but for the most part battles are of average length.

The music and sound of the game are good. Well, the music is good. There aren't that many sounds going off at once, and it kind of makes you feel lonely when music is the only thing ever playing.

The best part about the game is nostalgia. If you played WA1, you'll notice that they follow the plot closely. Dungeons and towns have the same names, and I can't help but feel sorry for those that never got the chance to play WA1. It's like having an old school RPG storyline with a new game.

Here are the bad things about the game:
Dungeons can get repetitive. The one problem with WA1 that I hated was the fact that the dungeons were completely non-linear. You go back and forth between rooms, hitting switches and going into doors that you just unlocked, while encountering tons of battles that you COULDN'T run away from. In this game, the dungeons are a bit more straight forward. After a while they look the same, so it gets easier. Also, the puzzles aren't that complicated. I don't mind that though, as I would rather have puzzles that are simple than puzzles that have puzzles within puzzles.

The graphics are reused from WA3, so there aren't that many technological improvements worth mentioning, other than the towns which look great.

The worst part about the game though is the need to use the search function. This was one of the problems with WA3 that people hated. While on the world map, you can't just see things easily. You have to use the square button to search the landscape for everything. In order to find towns and dungeons, you must search for them on the world map. You will basically be pressing square every 2 seconds. In order to find things. It's stupid, and serves no purpose.

Conclusion:
Buy this game if you loved WA1. If you hated WA3, this isn't the game for you. If you hated WA1 but loved WA3, this isn't the game for you.

Brings me back to when I was little.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: January 03, 2006
Author: Amazon User

After playing this game only to Baskar Village(which for people who dont know is not far at all) I have noticed an exact story as WA1.... and thats a good thing. I didnt like WA3 much because everyone used guns and that was boring but they changed that so Only Rudy uses an gun(ARM) and thats much better. the dungeons in all the WA games arte kinda boring all empty and straightforward to me. I loved WA1 so much that I had to buy this and, well, im very happy I did. The music in WA1 was beautiful and made me want to listen to it over and over again. And in this game they took that music and remized it. Most of the songs are even better than the first some arent but most are.
More things I noticed is that Rudy doesnt use a sword. In WA1 he used a sword for his normal weapon and had his ARM for special attacks. That caught my attention because I like swords better than guns(hence me not liking WA3.)Cutscenes are very vibrant and colorful and they really show whats going on. The beginning scene with the famous WA1 song is there. They did bring that song back but put a different anime scene in its place. So overall this game is awesome, beautiful, fun, sounding great. What more could you want. If you've never played Wild Arms before get the first one,beat it, then get this one. You'll lovethis if you loved the first!!!!

Good remake; absurd pricing.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: February 15, 2006
Author: Amazon User

First, I'd like to state that I am a fan of the Wild Arms series and have been since the release of the first installment on the original Playstation. Having said that, I don't hesitate in admitting that the first game in the series is indeed the best one to date, remake notwithstanding. As a series, Wild Arms takes an interesting approach to the RPG genre with a mix of both Western and Sci-Fi themes. The results are normally quite enjoyable.

The game in question is a remake of the very first game. As a remake, it does well to capture the overall feel of the story and it's characters, but it doesn't quite nail it. One wonders if the people behind the project were at all involved in the original. One could argue that there is something lost in the upgrade of the visuals and such, but that the elements that made the first game endearing are still intact... or should be. Sadly, it fails to come across with the same charm. Where one would have expected a much more fleshed out story with more detail lent to the individual characters' underlying plots, the game seems to fail. The score, which was a big factor in the original, is watered down and nowhere near as evocative this time around. Fans of the original, like myself, will definitely enjoy it riding the nostalgia factor but will surely agree that this remake could have done a much better job paying homage to the game that spawned the series.

As a stand alone game, it is a good, solid RPG with an entertaining story. The graphics, despite the update, come across as a tad bit dated (blame the delay in localization) and the battle system is nigh archaic. Plenty of side-quests to delve into make for moderate replay value. All in all, a game worth your time if it were priced at $30 tops.

One issue I'd like to tackle here is the fact that the merchants here at Amazon are pricing the game as some sort of collectors item. Should you browse the limited buying options, you'd be faced with ridiculous prices for a game no better than many other RPG's already in the bargain bin. (...)
Bottom line: Anyone looking to buy this game; do not pay more than $40 for it at this time. That's as expensive as it should be at this point (and quite honestly, the game is not worth THAT much).

Thankfully, I received mine as a gift and spent not a single penny on it, making the experience pretty much painless.

Hope this helps.

A rather huge remake, although it could have probably waited a little longer...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: August 08, 2006
Author: Amazon User

WA: ACF takes the original Wild Arms 1 and expands upon it greatly. It features re-dos of everything from the opening cinematic straight down to the dialogue and field graphics. The game also features numerous extras that make the original WA1 almost inferior, but the question remains: Was it really the right time to remake the first WA?

The graphics in the game are noticeably now all in full 3D. This helps a lot especially for the conversation and "movie" sequences where the story can be now much more appreciated. This shows one way in which 3D graphics are superior to 2D sprites. However, the 3D graphics in the game are not the best and they seem somewhat lacking, especially when compared to other RPGs out on the market today (FFX-2, Dragon Quest 8, Digital Devil Saga, etc). Still, the graphics are not downright ugly, and the battles are now much more enjoyable with much better 3D graphics than the ones used in the original WA.

The game play of the game itself has improved for the most part. The game features many elements from other WA games, so WA: ACF now "fits in" with the other games in the series. However, some of the changes are a little bit of a disappointment. No longer can the player equip weapons and armor to their characters. They also cannot put summons on every character in the party, as they are all limited to one character. Also, Rudy (the protagonist of the game) uses his ARM exclusively in battle, which is somewhat debatable as to whether or not this is a good or bad change. Also item shops have been vastly down-graded, and players will have to search for healing items for a huge portion of the game. The makers also removed one of the more exploitable items from the first game (goat dolls), so the players will have to use more strategy when tackling the harder challenges in the later parts of the game. Finally, the game features more than the regular 3 main characters from the first that can be recruited to your party. While these extra characters are a nice addition, players may not even ever fully utilize them since they only become permanent members of your party after you have completed side-quests that occur towards the end of the game. Still, these extra characters can add to the power and overall feeling of accomplishment that goes into completing the game.

The game also has a plethora of "extras", ranging from artwork and sound galleries that can be obtained through completing various tasks and earning "Ex-Keys". It also comes with a bonus DVD that features episode 1 of the Wild Arms anime, which is highly recommended for fans of the series.

The sound quality of the game is surprisingly good, although some songs in the game fall into the generic RPG dungeon/battle/town music heap. For the most part however, the game features many well put together orchestrated/synthesized songs that are downright beautiful. One disappointment players might find however is that all of the spoken dialogue has been removed from the game. All of the Japanese voice acting is gone, and apparently the makers had some problems finding English voice actors to dub the American version. This somewhat deters from the overall feel of the game, and it can make the conversations somewhat of a drag, especially for people who have played the original WA and already know the story.

WA: ACF is highly recommended for anyone who has not played the original Wild Arms, and also recommended for anyone who has and needs a "new" RPG to tide them over in the midst of a game drought. It still feels somewhat not too long ago since the release of the original Wild Arms, and some may wonder while playing it: "Why was this remade so soon"? While it is a very polished remake, the question will probably linger in the back of the player's mind.

Overall, a good representation of the original

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 12, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Wild Arms Alter Code F is a remake of the original Wild Arms for Playstation. Wild Arms was a fantastic game, and so the franchise continued to the point of making a PS2 rendition of the original.

However, some things have changed. No items to restore MP. Fewer force point options, and three new playable characters, making a total of six. Personal skills take the place of personal equipment, and some of the scenery has changed.

In broad strokes, though, this game has what appealed to me in the earlier version: puzzle filled dungeons where you need to use tools to get further, great music, an epic battle with alien invaders, interesting sidequests, and of course, Zed (a very enjoyable character).

If you liked the original, you will thoroughly enjoy this remake. Still, if you like the idea of an RPG with a Wild West theme, you may well like Wild Arms. An excellent RPG for those who follow the genre.

What's with the lovefest?

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: January 17, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I think too many reviewers remember fondly (and rightfully so) the PS1 game "Wild Arms". This remake pales in comparison, and smacks of a desperate attempt by a design team to get a few extra bucks out of a franchise.

First and foremost, there are bugs galore in the game. Serious bugs. Bugs that make you reset the PS2 (although I've heard that some have even had to restart their games, I've never experienced this). This is unacceptable. I don't care how good the source material is, it's shoddy and unprofessional to rush something with a price like this.

Which brings me back to my original point - the source material has already been published, and can be found for a lower price than the remake. All that is given here are better graphics (though they're nothing to write home about - for the time, "Wild Arms" for the PS1 had very nice graphics. The same is not true for "Alter Code"), some extra characters (which cannot be accessed until late in the game), and a couple of extra dungeons. What's more, the battle sequences in the remake are much poorer than the original offering, and much MUCH more annoying. They are over-long and often very tedious.

Sorry, but I don't see the love for this imitation. Bugs, design issues (the surprise encounter rate is ridiculous - but only when your characters are of a high enough level to avoid most encounters), and just general sloppiness make this one of the more tired RPG's I've played. I give it two stars only because the original was a 5-star offering...

A Wonderful Remake

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: May 07, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical at first of the idea of Media.Vision doing a remake of the cult classic, Wild Arms. But rest assured, this remake definitely lives up to the original.

This game manages to stay very close to the original, maintaining all of the original storylines, the original characters, and even the original dungeons. Michiko Naruke, the talented game scorer of the original series, returns here to remake and remix most of the original songs of the first game, giving them a new, polished feel (putting old wine in a new bottle, so to speak, but not in a bad way). Media.Vision even went so far as to keep in the original translation errors that were introduced in the first game (Fargaia = Filgaia; Jack Vambrace = Jack Van Burace; etc.)

As for the new elements that have been added to the game, you are now able to play two extra characters in battle, Professor Emma and Calamity Jane. The dungeons, although they maintain their original names and significance to the plot, have been entirely reworked to fit with the new 3D exploration system.

Another element that has been added to the mix is the ECN gague, which allows you to avoid random world/dungeon encounters, based on a meter located at the top of the screen. This system originally made its debut in Wild Arms: Advanced 3rd.

All in all, it is a wonderful remake for fans of the old game, or it is an introduction into the world of Filgaia for a newer, younger generation of games. Either way, it is well worth the money.


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